February 28, 2012

Odom out for two games, won't get a buyout

DALLAS -- Lamar Odom will not be with the Dallas Mavericks for the next two games because he reportedly is in Los Angeles with his father, who is ill.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Odom will miss tonight's game against the New Jersey Nets and Wednesday's road game at Memphis.

"Lamar is going to not be with us these two games and then we'll update everybody on Thursday as to where we're at,'' Carlisle said after this morning's shoot around at American Airlines Center. "He's got a tough situation he's going through, we're very supportive as a franchise and we'll let you know Thursday where we at.''

Asked how do the Mavs move forward without Odom during this period of time, Carlisle said: "Well, I think I just answered that. We're going to go with the guys we've got.''

The Mavs are refuting reports out of Los Angeles that Odom wants the Mavs to buy him out of his contract so he can play elsewhere. Owner Mark Cuban said a buyout will not take place.

"We have not discussed a buyout,'' Cuban said, "and we will not buy him out under any circumstances.''

At least two sources told the Star-Telegram that Odom wants to return to Los Angeles, where his career began, and play for the Clippers. And at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, at least two players and a high-ranking NBA offiicial said they heard Odom wanted out of Dallas.

The Clippers made Odom the No. 4 overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft. The 6-10 forward played for the Clipperrs from 1999-2003, then played one season for the Miami Heat, and for the Lakers from 2004-'11.

The Lakers attempted to trade Odom to the New Orleans Hornets in December in a deal that ultimately was nixed by NBA commissioner David Stern. When Odom got wind of the trade, he was furious and asked the Lakers to trade him.

The Lakers then traded Odom -- the next day to Dallas.

Thus far, Odom has not fit it well with the Mavs. He's averaged just 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds -- well below the 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds he averaged last year while becoming the first Laker to ever win the NBA's Sixth Man Award.

Asked after this morning's shoot around about Odom's situation, Mavs point guard Jason Kidd said: "It's going to work itself out one way or another, and we just hope it works itself out soon.''

Odom contemplated sitting out this season after one of his cousins was killed last summer. Shortly after that, an SUV Odom was riding in collided with a motorcycle, which skidded and killed a teenager.